As expected the FIA World Motor Sport Council has addressed the issue of power ubit penlties, as mandated by the Strategy Group last week.

From Hungary onwards the maximum penalty a driver can receive for changing power unit elements is starting from the back of the grid, so time penalties, drive throughs and stop and go penalties have gone.

In addition a fifth extra engine has been granted for manufacturers in their first year, which will apply to Honda.

The World Council said: “The simplification of the power unit penalties, ensuring that the most a driver can be penalised is to be demoted to the rear of the grid – this will eliminate penalties during the race for these infractions.

“New power unit manufacturers to F1 will receive an extra power unit for each driver to use throughout Grands Prix for the season, bringing the total to five – one more than the existing power unit suppliers. This will be applied retrospectively to Honda. These changes to the sporting regulations will come into force with immediate effect.”

In addition the WMSC has looked at the new F1 Super Licence system, which is based upoj points accrued via success in various categories. The WMSC has approved the update of the Super Licence regulations with a view to:

“Increasing flexibility for drivers having qualified for a Super Licence, but do not have the opportunity to race in Formula One. These drivers will now keep this possibility for three years (eg. typical F1 test driver situation).

“Enlarging the list of Series included in the Super Licence point system following numerous requests from series for inclusion.

“Adjusting of points given to some series already included to better reflect the strength of series.

“Granting the champion of the FIA Formula E Championship with a Super Licence, although the Championship is not part of the points system.”

My are they bending over backwards for Honda and McLaren, whose season was written off long ago. Shows how utterly arbitrary the power unit regulations are. It seems to me that granting a Super License to the Formula E champion makes little sense given how tough it is to get into F-1 in the first place. I wonder if it is more for the sake of giving Formula E credibility than to encourage FE drivers (many of whom were in F-1 already) to step up to F-1.